Speaking at the award ceremony, T.C. Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said, “We have reached the world's fifth largest textile manufacturer and exporter. I know we have power and potential. Of course, the fifth rank in the world is an important achievement. We have the ability to take this much further. Therefore, I find it very reasonable, the third rank target set by Ahmet Bey. But how we go beyond this and become number one? With the Allah’s will in mind, I believe that we will achieve these successes in this hall as well.’’ İTHİB President Ahmet Öksüz stated that the new target of the Turkish textile industry, which is one of the 5 biggest textile economies in the world with an export of 12.9 billion dollars, as to be ranked amongst the top 3 in production and exports, and congratulated İTHİB members whom have made one of the most valuable contributions to this success.
The textile industry, which is one of the sectors that makes the biggest contribution to Turkey's total exports, broke the historical record of the Republic with an export of 12.9 billion dollars in 2021. Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters' Association (İTHİB) awarded successful exporters with a ceremony that held last night. Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank also attended the award ceremony. Weavings prepared within the scope of the 'Turkey Weaving Atlas' project, which aims to bring together the traditional weavings of Anatolia with the textile and fashion sectors, were exhibited with a special show.
Stating that the ‘Turkey Weaving Atlas Project’ is a project that harmonizes and presents the rich culture of Turkey, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank said, “This project actually demonstrates the power of our textile industry. The sector, which was disliked by some at the time, is now producing all over the world with your efforts. With the approach centered on R&D, design and innovation, products that can compete in global markets are now produced in our country in the industry. The export of more than 30 billion dollars is the biggest evidence of this. We have become the fifth largest textile manufacturer and exporter in the world. I know we have the power and potential. Of course, the fifth rank in the world is an important achievement. We have the ability to take this much further. Therefore, I find it very reasonable, the third rank target set by Ahmet Bey. But how we go beyond this and become number one? With the Allah’s will in mind, I believe that we will achieve these successes in this hall as well. We will be able to play for the world leadership as soon as possible. I do not have doubt about it. You have made a tremendous contribution to production, exports and employment with your outstanding efforts. Adding value to exports actually means adding value to Turkey. For this reason, I wanted to reward our winners whom have been in support of our vision of investment, production, employment and export that add value to our country.”
''No Success Happens Coincidentally''
Stating that the well-established companies of the textile industry are in competition with each other, Minister Varank said, “This industry fills with such so many success stories that we are proud of each of them. I also heartily congratulate the industrialists, investors and entrepreneurs whom constantly continue to add value to our country in the sector that have not entitled with an award. I wish their successes continued with a rise that would be taken as an example for those who follow. No success happens coincidentally. Of course, we know that our companies have come to the points they have reached by working day and night with great commitment. Providing our entrepreneurs with an effective business and investment environment that will not ruin these efforts and even encourage them more is as valuable as these efforts. We, as the Ministry, act as companions to our business world under the leadership of our President, and continue our efforts to pave the way for them without slowing down. We never compromise on investment, production, employment and export both in textiles and other sectors. We build Organized Industrial Zones, Industrial Areas, industrial Sites and we are strengthening the industrial infrastructure of our country. We are building effective R&D and innovation offices with techno parks, R&D and design centers. We support green and digital transformations with KOSGEB and TUBITAK. We provide attractive incentives for private sector investments. We contribute to innovative entrepreneurship with the funds we create. We also create effective programs to support the necessary human resources for the technological transformation of our country. In addition to all these, we continue to develop vision projects that will carry our country to the next century in groundbreaking fields such as in space and in artificial intelligence. Textile also is a sector where our efforts make a difference by combining these efforts with the efforts of informatics and entrepreneurs.”
''Highest Export in the History of the Republic''
Speaking at the award ceremony, Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) President Mustafa Gültepe said, “Turkish textile is one of the leading sectors in which we are branded all over the world with its exports to more than 200 countries. Despite the many crises we have been through, our textile industry has progressed in its exports, stitch by stitch; while always aiming for more. It means exporting to more than 200 countries; it means that almost any folk in the world population of 8 billion can see Turkish fabric, feels and lives the quality. We have proven many times to the whole world that we are a reliable and sought-after supplier. Whatever makes us successful, such as quality, craftsmanship, design, brand perception and so on, we should offer them more to the service of humanity. In doing so, we must both make our exports sustainable and increase the share of sustainable products. We have already left 9 months of the year behind. 9-month exports of textile and ready-made clothing reached 24 billion dollars. This table shows us that textile and ready-made clothing counts the days for the highest export in the history of the Republic. I wholeheartedly believe that our two sectors will exceed 32 billion dollars this year.”
"Together We Are Proud"
Ahmet Öksüz, who made the opening speech of the award ceremony, said, “As the textile industry, we broke the historical record of the Republic with an export of 12.9 billion dollars in 2021. With a production of 49 billion dollars in 2021, we reached the highest production value of all time. We promised to make the Turkish textile industry one of the top 5 textile exporting countries in the world. Our industry has become the 5th largest textile supplier in the world, while leaving its competitors behind such as Italy and South Korea. Our share in global textile exports reached an all-time high with 3.6 percent. In the January-September period of 2022, we made exports worth of 10 billion dollars. In the last 1 year, we increased our employment by 80,000 people and reached 1.2 million jobs. By the end of the year, we will set a new record together and announce the highest export figures in the history of the Republic together. Because We Exported Together; So We Are Proud Together.”
Added Value to the Country's Economy
Commenting on global developments, Ahmet Öksüz said, “Developing our production network, creating new employment opportunities, increasing our exports and developing our country's economy are amongst our most important goals. In line with these goals, we carry out various works such as improving the production opportunities of our sector, increasing our value-added exports with our projects, ensuring market diversity, design, training and promotion attacks. As the Turkish textile industry, we will continue to add value to the Turkish economy today as we did yesterday. Our biggest goal is; to be ranked amongst the top 3 textile exporting and manufacturing countries in the world while leaving our competitors behind!”
